Since 2006, there has been a global shortage of helium, despite its abundance in the universe.
Helium is mainly sourced from natural gas reserves and is used as a coolant in MRI scanners.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict has exacerbated the shortage of liquid helium.
This has affected MRI scanner supply, causing issues for diagnostic facilities worldwide, including India.
A new type of MRI scanner is designed to avoid reliance on liquid helium.
These scanners can use more readily available and cheaper liquid nitrogen to cool the magnets.
Voxelgrids Innovations Private Ltd., based in Bangalore, has developed the first Indian MRI scanner.
The scanner's magnets use liquid nitrogen for cooling instead of helium.
The first clinically validated product will be unveiled in October at the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Bengaluru.
COMMENTS